Many times we wonder which way we should go in life, and unfortunately we do what we feel is right without praying for an answer from God. Going our own way in life is not what God intends, for we are going in the ways of the world and not what God wants. As for Jacob, who is called Israel, he confided in the Lord and received an answer from Him in regards to moving to Egypt to be with his son or not. This was that answer from God. It reads, “and Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.” (Genesis 46:1-4) So now Israel heard what God wanted and it was up to Him to move to Egypt or not.
What I love about Israel is that He always did as God commanded. No matter if it meant leaving a land that he was already used to, which made his life easier. Going to Egypt would mean going into a strange land where Egyptians don’t always get along with Hebrews. However, this was not stopping Jacob from bring everything he had into this land. So, much like Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into Egypt, so did Jacob and the posterity of Israel. It is written, “and Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.” (Genesis 46:5-7) What would you do? Would you also get up and move to a foreign land if God told you to? Or would you stay put because life is easier where you are at? The choice is yours, but those that follow God are blessed. Amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people will begin to hear Your voice when you call them. There are so many paths that we could be following in life, but only one path leads to life eternal. That is the path with You, Jesus, at the head. As for me, I only want to hear Your voice, even if it is a still small voice, or a prompting that comes from other things in life. What this world offers me is not the fulfillment I need, but what You offer me instead. I am willing to get up and move my family to any place on this earth, if that was Your will for my life. Where You want me to go may not be easy for me in any regard, but will it be right for me? Yes, and that is all I care about. I don’t need comfort in life when it comes to the worlds standards, but the comfort that You give me. This comfort can come when I am persecuted for my faith. Yes, while in prayer, You are the one that gives me peace when life is hard. As for now, I have a new job starting on Wednesday. This is a great unknown to me at this point. Help me to not just fit it, but to be a light among my new co-workers. I have prayed about this and feel right about this new opporunity. Lead me, Lord. I will follow You to the ends of time. I love You, God, and give You praise and honor. Amen.